Fires burning below Lake Deborah

STATESBORO - Firefighters and foresters have been battling subterranean fires burning just beneath the dry peat of Kennedy Pond, also known as Lake Deborah, in east Georgia. <br> <br> The fires, which officials suspect may be arson, started Thursday and could last well into the summer. <br> <br> Foresters intentionally set fires Friday to dry underbrush and debris in the lake that had not yet been burned, hoping to eliminate fuel that otherwise would continue to feed the underground flames. <br> <br> They also pumped water from a lagoon that rests on the northern banks of the lake, but the flames continued to burn. <br> <br> The fires have generated a steady supply of smoke, but recent low humidity, high winds and backfires could eliminate excess fuel and help bring about a speedier burnout.

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